European Union and Belarus step up cooperation on water policy: The inaugural meeting of the National Interagency Steering Committee of the European Union Water Initiative plus (EUWI+) took place in Minsk, Belarus, on 5 December 2018. It supports the national dialogue on Integrated Water Resources Management.

A High level meeting for the water sector

Implementing the national water sector policy, enhancing transboundary cooperation, advancing river basin management planning and for further developing laboratories and ground and surface water monitoring to comply with requirements of the European Water Framework Directive and Integrated Water Resources Management were the subjects of the meeting organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus (MNREP).

The meeting, opened by the Deputy Minister, Mr. Andrei Khmel, gathered together members of the Interagency Steering Committee recently nominated by the government of Belarus representing various ministries and entities including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Emergency Situations, the National Statistics Committee, and representatives from the EU Delegation to Belarus, International Organizations and experts.

They have discussed the role of the EUWI+ in support of water policy reform in Belarus.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (MNREP) presented the draft National water strategy until 2030. It aims at sustainable management and preservation of water resources in view of climate change. It will contribute to the implementation of related Sustainable Development Goals.

The discussions on the long-term priorities for the water sector also focused on the development and implementation of the River Basin Management Plans and transboundary cooperation.

How the cooperation set up

The Republic of Belarus is involved in the EUWI+ project to comply with requirements of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). EUWI+ is supporting the country for implementing the Integrated Water Resources Management until 2020.

The EUWI+ support Belarus in implementing the national water sector policy, enhancing transboundary cooperation, advancing the management of water resources through the river basin management plan and for further developing laboratories and ground and surface water monitoring.

The main decisions of the National Interagency Steering Committee

Meeting participants:

Recognized the progress in implementing the EUWI+ programme

Welcomed the initiation of the revision of targets under the Protocol on Water and Health

Identified the need to continue to work on a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the draft national water strategy

Agreed that by 1st of January 2019 a list of proposed additional pilot projects to be sent to the EUWI+ team by the MNREP

Pursued the work on harmonization and approval of national methodologies on the SDG indicator 6.3-6.5

Invited the UNECE to consider the organization of a workshop on the SDG 6.5.2 Indicator jointly with neighbouring countries.

Provided recommendations (a list of priority measures with implementation dates) on the development of drinking water supply systems in the Kopyl district.

Entrusted the organizations subordinate to the MNREP to take measures aimed at tax exemption for supply of equipment under the EUWI+.